The Presidency Week 10 Chapter 10 in Wilson

The President Where in the Constitution?  Article II How important to Madison and the Founders?  2 nd, after Congress???  Clearly important: Absence of an executive was one of the main problems with the Articles of Confederation.

The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Commander in Chief Controls the Military Commands in time of war Declares war NOT !!! Power to send in troops has always been a huge source of power Can effectively commit the nation without a declaration of war

The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Director of U.S. Foreign Relations Conducts all foreign affairs Sends ambassadors  Nominates them – confirmed by the Senate Receives ambassadors Negotiates treaties  Signs them – ratified by the Senate

The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Chief Executor CEO: Runs the government Presents and manages a federal budget Entire federal government answers to him Implements legislation  Oversees the translation of legislation into policy and procedures  Enjoys some degree of discretion in interpreting law – to create detailed policy

The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Chief Executor Oversees law enforcement  Appoints Attorney General  Determines policy on when to fight in court to defend laws and when to surrender to claims of unconstitutionality

The President: Constitutional Roles--Article II Head of State Ribbon-cutter in Chief  Ceremonial roles: Domestic and Foreign Pardons and reprieves  Grant a Pardon Wipe a conviction clean  Grant Clemency Lift or reduce sentence for humanitarian reasons  Commute a Sentence Reduce a sentence to a lesser level

The President: Informal Roles Cheerleader in Chief Party Leader Spokesman to the World Mourner in Chief National Pastor ???

Presidential Power Sources of Presidential Strength Constitutional Powers Election Mandate -- NATIONAL Personal magnetism and skills Political Party Family: Especially the First Lady Millions of employees:  Cabinet  Appointees  Federal bureaucracy

Presidential Power Sources of Presidential Weakness Constitutional balance  Congress’s powers  Supreme Court’s powers Personal weaknesses Limited time and limited tenure

Presidential Power Sources of Presidential Weakness Millions of employees  Cabinet & appointees Tendency to “go native”  Civil Servants Civil service protection Can resist and drag feet

Power Balance: Ascendancy of the Presidency The Framer's Original Intent: Relatively weak leader Carries out the will of Congress on domestic front Strong in international affairs Always constrained by Constitution and Congress

Power Balance: Ascendancy of the Presidency The Power of War Presidents use Commander in Chief role to expand power  Lincoln conduced Civil War without Congress Nation tends to rally round the president in times of war Presidents manipulate that rally-round-the- President phenomenon  Wag the dog??

Power Balance: Ascendancy of the Presidency The Power of War: Presidents manipulate it? WW II: Roosevelt finally gets his New Deal policies once we’re at war Viet Nam: presidents sidestep Congress to achieve their own goals, build anti-communist credentials Iraq war, Desert Storm 1991: GHW Bush bolsters popularity and seems unbeatable Afghanistan and Iraq war now: GW Bush gained stature and respect as a “War President” that boosted his ratings and won him reelection in 2004

Power Balance: The President Checked War Powers Act, 1973 Passed, vetoed, overridden, Supreme Court challenge – it lives!!! Congress limited the President Requires presidents to consult Congress before any action except in emergency Requires presidents to inform Congress within 48 hours of committing troops  President must get congressional approval to keep troops engaged  Funding ends in 60 days without Congress’s approval Exceptions and extensions effectively give a president about 120 days to get troops out if Congress won’t comply

Power Balance: The President Checked Watergate Conspiracy and disgrace of Watergate weakened the president for some time

Power Balance: The Tug-of-War Continues... 9/11 and war…  Presidential power ascends  Patriot Act  Wire taps and record searches without warrants  Military Tribunals and Geneva Convention Supreme Court reigns in many excesses  Democratic victory in Congress

Things to think about: The Vice President The First Lady The Cabinet